CA
AB 40: Would Require Environmental Review for Coal Handling, Storage, and Export Facilities in California
AB 40 would amend the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to require environmental impact reports for facilities involved in the handling, storage, and export of coal within California. Under the bill, projects related to coal operations would face additional environmental review requirements before receiving approval. The bill is currently in the Assembly Appropriations Committee following a second reading and amendment.
✓ REASONS TO SUPPORT
- Communities near coal facilities could receive stronger protections from air and water pollution, since a full environmental review must be completed before operations can proceed.
- Requiring detailed environmental studies may help identify and reduce health risks for residents living close to coal storage and export sites.
- The additional review process gives local communities and agencies a formal opportunity to weigh in on coal-related projects before they are approved.
- Aligns California's oversight of coal infrastructure with the state's broader environmental and climate goals by ensuring coal projects face scrutiny similar to other industrial developments.
✕ REASONS TO OPPOSE
- The new review requirements could increase costs and delays for businesses and ports that handle coal, potentially affecting jobs and commerce tied to those operations.
- Owners and operators of existing coal facilities may face significant new regulatory burdens that were not in place when they originally built or invested in their operations.
- Critics may argue that California-based environmental reviews have limited impact on coal pollution, since most coal handled in the state is destined for export and burned elsewhere.
- Additional permitting layers could make California ports and facilities less competitive compared to those in other states that do not impose equivalent requirements.
Read the full bill ↗
Send a postcard to your representatives